Spring 2016
The
Next Desk
Managing risk in the modern, small business workplace
The
Ergonomics
Issue
What’s going on here?
Inside:
Taming toxic turtle neck 3
(You may want to sit up straight as you read this.)
Well on wheels
4
When fads go bad
5
The road warrior 6
Our technology may be mobile but our bodies often aren’t. Sitting still all the time has been
linked to high blood pressure, bad cholesterol and obesity. The way we sit, stand, bend,
push, pull or lift all have a direct impact on employee health and well-being in the workplace,
which in turn, affects your business. That’s why we’re taking some time to explore the
important topic of ergonomics in the modern work environment.
Take a load off
7
The economics of ergonomics 7
When personal computers first came out, we all looked at ergonomic risks to be as predictable
and stationary as that PC itself. Today, we’re taking our devices and plugging in anywhere and
everywhere — from the coffee shop down the street to the coach-class airline seat at 30,000
feet — we need to remember to take a break and give the body some balance. This issue of
The Next Desk is all about giving you the information you need to anticipate the risks hiding in
all those innocent-looking exercise balls, standing desks and mobile devices.
Our expert advice? Ditch your dignity and skip around the conference
table every so often.
In a world of omnipresent
mobile devices, alternative
workstations, and 24/7
connectivity, how’s a business
owner supposed to predict
and prevent workplace injuries?
That’s where we come in. At
Travelers, we stay on top of
the ever-shifting, evolving
“workscape” so we can help
you protect what you’ve
worked so hard to build.
Today’s workplace
looks remarkably
different. So we
take a remarkably
different look.
2
Taming toxic turtle neck
We have nothing against the turtleneck, the pullover of choice for suave
spies and tech guys. Our target instead is the “turtle neck,” the slumpedforward, curved shoulder posture that afflicts anyone who sits at a desk
gazing at a monitor, tablet or smartphone all day.
The turtle neck doesn’t just
look bad; it feels bad.
It’s aggravated by other ergonomically
dubious workplace habits: It’s bad for the spine. Bending the
head forward puts up to 15 pounds
of pressure on the spinal column.
Focusing on documents placed flat on
your desk also causes static loading.
It’s bad for circulation. Experts
use the term “static loading” to
describe how remaining stationary
in this posture for extended periods
of time reduces healthy blood flow.
olding the phone between the
H
shoulder and ear places even more
stress on the neck and back.
Be good to your neck. It
holds your head up all day.
Help your employees to prevent
turtle neck by sharing these tips
from Harvard Medical School:
Make sure all devices and documents
are positioned at a comfortable
viewing angle.
Don’t stay still. Shift your weight
and move your hands.
Give your body a break every
15 minutes. Get up, stretch and
move around.
3
Well on
wheels
When you work out of your car,
every road is a toll road. Driving
takes a tremendous toll on your
body – and you can’t pay by simply
pulling up to a booth and throwing
coins into the basket.
Your four-wheeled office comes with two
big problems. The first problem comes
from all that sitting, for hour after hour,
until your knees freeze and you can’t feel
your posterior anymore.
The solution is as close as the next exit. Pull
over to a rest area and get out of your car
at least every two hours. Go for a short
walk. Stretch a bit. And take your time – a
good 15-minute break will do wonders for
your muscles.
The second problem comes from ignoring
the importance of a good fit. You’d never
wear clothes that were tailored for someone
five inches shorter than you. So why would
you slide into a driver’s seat tailored for an
eighth-grade gymnast?
There’s absolutely no rule that says you have
to accept whatever settings you happen to
find. Before turning on the ignition, adjust
your car to fit your body (not the other way
around). Changing the position of your seat,
steering wheel and mirrors can make a huge
difference in the way you’ll feel when you
reach your destination.
Seat tweaks
Scoot the driver’s seat forward until you can
easily press the accelerator and brake pedals.
Tilt the seat cushion so that it supports
your thighs along the length of the cushion,
avoiding pressure behind the knees. Adjust
the backrest for continuous support along
the length of your back and shoulders. Stay
4
upright – reclined positions force your
head and neck to crank forward. Line up
the headrest with the top of your head and
adjust it to minimize the distance between
the headrest and the back of your head.
Steering wheel and mirror
Adjust the steering wheel for easy reach with
slightly bent elbows. Check for clearance
above your knees and thighs, and make sure
you have a clear view of the display panel.
And position the mirrors so you can see
them all while sitting comfortably against
your seat, without having to lean.
Shady strategies
Use sunglasses and adjust sun visors to
reduce eyestrain. Make sure the sun visors
do not obstruct your view of the road.
Park it
The car isn’t an ideal place to use a laptop
but, if you must, put it in park and move
into the passenger seat, where you will
have more room to get comfortable.
Then face your laptop so your body is as
parallel as possible to the laptop monitor
and keyboard.
Ergonomic trends
When fads go bad
Desks and chairs used to go together like cookies and milk. Not anymore. Now you have core-conscious millenials
balancing on giant balls and health-conscious Gen-Xers refusing to sit on anything. Your employees may think they
need exercise balls and standing desks to stay healthy on the job but, despite their perceived health benefits, these
fads can cause more harm than good.
In defense of the
traditional office chair
On (and off) the ball
The thinking behind exercise balls is that
the lack of back support results in constant
small adjustments, which may activate the
back muscles and help maintain muscle
tone. However, there is little research
to support the use of exercise balls in
an office setting. And extended use can
actually cause compression of discs in the
back. According to Cornell University, an
exercise ball is no substitute for a good
ergonomic office chair.
Ergonomic experts are big fans of the
well-designed office chair. As the fads
fade, perhaps it’s time for a comeback.
After all, traditional chairs are built to
enhance productivity and minimize the
likelihood of injury.
If you’re ready for the return of the classic
office chair, look for these key features:
Pneumatic height adjustment
•
In not-so-good standing
The deal with heels
For fashionistas who sport sky-high
spikes one day and kicky flats the next,
make sure the workstation is adjusted
as heel height varies. It could be as
simple as having a footrest for those
flats days when feet might not reach
the ground. On the flip side, high
heel wearers should also consider
switching to flats for
standing meetings.
News stories about the health risks of being
sedentary have led many offices to offer
standing desks. But the standing desk also
presents ergonomic challenges. Without
making the proper setting adjustments,
users will compensate with raised elbows,
slumping shoulders, excessive leaning
or uncomfortable reaching. Prolonged
standing can also be risky – it’s linked to
reduced circulation and discomfort in the
feet as well as the lower back.
Working in the sweet spot
If you offer sit-stand desks in your office,
make sure each desk accommodates the
employee’s work height for both sitting
and standing. Provide training to educate
users on appropriate footwear and the risk
factors associated with both static sitting
and standing postures.
Whether sitting or standing, encourage your
employees to maintain a neutral posture.
Work should be at elbow height. Shoulders
should be relaxed with the arms near the
side. Wrists and head should be straight.
5
Height-adjustable lumbar support
•
Seat back that can either be locked in
an upright position or inclined up to 110 degrees
•
Adjustable padded armrests with
rounded edges
•
Adjustable seat pan
•
Five-caster base with appropriate
casters for the flooring surface
•
From road worrier to road warrior
Well, this is awkward. You’ve made it a
priority to get comfortable with mobile
technology. Now you have the fastest
thumbs in the west and all the latest apps.
But there’s nothing at all comfortable about
creaky wrists, stiff elbows, and that weird
numbness you’ve been ignoring.
True mobile mastery takes more than savvy. It
takes skills. Try these techniques to raise your
game from achy amateur to gadget guru.
Mouse musts
Consider connecting an external mouse
to your laptop. Use your whole hand and
arm as you move it. And avoid the dreaded
“deadline death grip of doom.”
Keys for keyboarding
Float your hands and lightly touch the keys
while typing. Keep the keys at elbow height
if possible. Research key commands (such
as function keys and hot keys) that serve as
handy shortcuts. Take short breaks to relax
your hands and arms. And, wherever possible,
connect an external keyboard to your laptop.
Monitor mastery
Angle the laptop screen so that the top of
the screen is at or slightly below eye level. Try
using books or a monitor riser to elevate the
laptop, with a separate attachment for the
keyboard and mouse. And, wherever possible,
attach a full-sized monitor to your laptop.
Goofy – but good for you
Working on your laptop in a hotel room?
Try using the ironing board as an
adjustable workstation.
Tablet tips
Avoid long periods of typing directly on the
touch screen. Use an external Bluetooth
keyboard instead. If you must type directly
on the touch screen, alternate your typing
position frequently. For example, switch
between typing with the tablet on a table
or holding it vertically and typing with your
thumbs to help reduce neck discomfort.
6
A day in the life of a roving laptop
7:15 a.m
Seatback
tray table
10:45 a.m
Passenger seat of a rental car
12:30 p.m
Working lunch from a food truck
2:15 p.m
Client conference room
6:30 p.m
Coffee shop FaceTime
with the family
10:00 p.m
Hotel bed
Take a load off
Do’s and don’ts for carrying the weight of a busy day
Lugging the minimum daily adult requirement of gym gear, laptops and lunch stuff can be a pain in the neck
(also shoulders, back, maybe even knees). Share these tips to help prevent aches and injuries.
DO
take a hard look at
your daily haul. A heavy
tote can mess with your
craniovertebral junction,
aka the neck, as well as the
curvature at the small of
your back.
DO
DON’T stuff your bag
use two straps rather
than one. If both shoulders
can share the weight, you can
minimize your risk of injury.
If you must use a single-strap
bag, wear it cross-body style
to minimize pressure on your
muscles, nerves and joints.
haphazardly. Place heavier
items toward the bottom
and distribute the rest of
the load evenly.
DO
carry your bag
close to the body. Doing
so will minimize the stress
on your spine.
DON’T cling to painful
habits. If you love your
leather tote too much to
give it up, simply lighten its
load and consign the rest to
a rolling laptop bag.
DON’T carry more than
25 pounds in a single bag.
Each additional pound you
carry adds three additional
pounds of pressure to
your joints.
Not all wheelie bags are
created equal. Look for a
sturdy bag with wheels that
glide smoothly over any
surface without struggle,
drift or wobble. BONUS:
some models can even be
worn as a backpack.
•
Carrying 25 pounds adds
75 pounds of pressure.
•
Carrying a 50-pound
bag adds 150 pounds
of pressure.
•
Carrying a 75-pound
bag adds 225 pounds
of pressure!
•
The economics of ergonomics
We get it. It’s hard to think about spending money on fully adjustable office chairs, adjustable workstations or ergonomic training.
But economizing on ergonomics may cost you more in the long run. Take a look at these numbers:
34%
According to OSHA, 34% of
all lost workdays are due to
musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs). An MSD is an injury
or pain in the joints; ligaments;
muscles; nerves; tendons; or
structures that support limbs,
neck and back.
$1in $3
$1 out of every $3
spent on workers
compensation is
due to MSDs
$29K
$29,000 is the
average claim
for an MSD.
$27K
$27,000 is the average claim
for carpal tunnel syndrome.
(Tendinitis, which can lead
to carpal tunnel syndrome,
is less famous but actually
more prevalent.)
70%
70% of carpal tunnel
syndrome cases that
necessitate time off work,
as well as nearly 60% of
tendinitis cases, afflict
women, according to OSHA.
Consider taking a new look at your old office furniture.
7
NEXT ISSUE:
Your
attention,
please
Is an open environment more
distracting? Find out in the
upcoming Distractions issue of
The Next Desk. We’ll cover all kinds
of distractions, like distracted
walking and driving – plus
workplace diversions like rock
walls, game tables and pets.
Now more than ever, unexpected workplace injuries can be difficult to predict or prevent.
That’s why choosing the right workers compensation insurance company is so important.
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